Question:  Dear Greg,

            I have been reading the Q&A’s on topics such as “sabbath” and “law”.  In a number of your responses it seemed fairly clear that you are able to tell when it is that the scripture is referring to the old covenant law or the new covenant law.  I am very interested to learn how it is that you are able to make such a distinction.  Is there some type of a reference Bible that will tell me explicitly that the word “law” in a particular passage refers to one or the other?

            Thank you for your help,

            Sarah

Answer:  Dear Sarah,

            Several ways I would suggest—and this being a brief answer, these are by no means definitive.

1.      Some who import selected portions of the old covenant into the new implicitly add the word “ten” to any New Testament reference to commands.  This is not the meaning that is intended.  The references to commands in the New Testament usually have to do with the new commands of Jesus Christ, not with the old covenant.  If they do refer to one of or all of the “Ten” commands, they will refer to the way in which they apply to Christians, because of the cross of Christ.  The cross of Christ forever changed the old covenant.

2.      The context of the passage in question.  Proof-texting is the habit of trying to “find” biblical passages which agree with our pre-determined belief about a topic—our presupposition.  When we are following such a method of Bible “study” we are not concerned with the immediate context, but simply intent on finding a formulation or juxtaposition of words and phrases that “fits”.  But, of course, such a method used on any form of literature (and the Bible is literature, albeit inspired by God through human authors using language and linguistic forms that humans understand), can be twisted and distorted.

            Hope this helps.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht